Good Creative Habits for the Christian
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Now, practically, what does it look like to be a Christian creative? What sort of habits can we get into that would benefit our work, those around us, and bring glory and honor to God?
Well, first of all, there is no set formula or “You Must Dos” outside of what’s mentioned in the Bible. Second of all, this list is by no means comprehensive or a checklist where you have to mark off every single one of these things in order to be a Good Christian Creative. We live under grace, not legalism, and this is just a handy guide to help if there are any areas of your creative journey that you feel need it!
Third of all, this list is probably going to look very, very basic. There isn’t anything fancy on here, and nothing that isn’t found in the Bible or mentioned indirectly. Almost all of these habits can be applied to any other aspect of your life, with maybe a few small tweaks!
Spiritual Habits
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” - Colossians 3:16
Daily Prayer: Pray before your start your work so that you can be centered on Christ.
Pray for Wisdom: Whenever you are stuck or need to brainstorm, pray for wisdom to see the project through.
Fasting: Fasting can be a great way to recenter on God and honor Him in your prayers. Don’t underestimate it!
Daily Bible Reading and Meditation: Keep that Scripture fresh in your mind!
Daily Present Yourself to the Cross: Give your talents, abilities, and projects over to God’s will, for His glory.
Find a Good Church: This one may seem to fall outside of the creative category, but a good church with a healthy, uplifting body of Christ will do wonders to nourish you spiritually, which will in turn nourish your God-given creativity.
Repentance: A big one nobody really wants to hear, but actively seeking repentance for your sins as a habit will do wonders for your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical welfare. Sin is a baggage you do not need to be carrying around while you are trying to work for the Kingdom*!
Physical Habits
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Eating Properly: Fasting is great when it is intentional, not so great when you simply forget because you are too busy or too involved in your project. Set timers, eat well and properly.
Staying Hydrated: Same with eating, forgetting to drink water is going to take its toll on you and your abilities to work for the Kingdom. Set a timer! Throw some electrolytes in that water bottle! Have a few drinks a day that don’t involve caffeine!
Getting Sleep: Sleep is important! Do not brush it aside in favor of a “just one last (element of the project you are working on)” habit. That’s a never-ending cycle and you will not get any rest to recharge and regenerate!
Exercising: Get up and move your body regularly, stretch your back, relax your jaw, flex your hands and wrists, try to correct that posture.
Mental & Emotional Habits
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:15-16
Forgiving Others: Carrying the weight of others’ sins against you is taxing both mentally and emotionally; get into a good habit of forgiving others of their wrongs against you to free up brainpower.
Rest: This one is a good habit for all three habit groups, but it is especially key for Christian creatives in a mental and emotional capacity. Don’t burn yourself out!
Watch Your Input: i.e. be careful about what media you are feeding your mind. Make sure it isn’t leading you away from Christ or causing you to stumble.
Encourage Others: Take the time to encourage other Christian creatives around you! It will benefit you far more than you’d think.
Avoid a Habit of Complaining: Look for the good in your work, projects, or in the work and projects of others.
Turn off the Inner Critic: Not everything you do needs to be picked apart at the seams. Have grace for yourself for an imperfect project!
Putting it into action: Putting it into Action: take a moment and review your current creative habits, are there any that you want to change or adjust? Are there any that you know you NEED to adjust, but haven’t gotten around to yet? Now’s a good time! Pick just one and set a goal to adopt it into your routine. There doesn’t have to be a specific timeline to get it “done”, just work on incorporating it into your schedule. Don’t fret if you miss a day, show yourself grace and resolve to catch it the next day!
*This is not to say that you have to be perfect and sinless in order to work for the Kingdom!! We never will be perfect or sinless until we finally get to Heaven! But, having a habit of repentance brings in humility and removes a ton of roadblocks in your walk with Christ.
